A significant number of tickets for Wales' home matches in the Six Nations tournament remain unsold, with tens of thousands still available for purchase.

Typically, the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, which has a capacity of 74,000, is filled to the brim or near capacity for Wales' home fixtures in the tournament, a highlight of the Welsh sporting calendar.

As of Thursday afternoon, the Welsh Rugby Union's official ticket site showed that 15,700 tickets were still available for the upcoming match against France, 6,700 for the subsequent match against Scotland, and 27,000 for the match against Italy in March.

According to the Welsh Rugby Union, changes in buying habits have led to a slower initial ticket sales pace, although sales have picked up, with around 1,000 tickets being sold daily this week.

The number of empty seats at Sunday's match could be higher than expected, as some clubs, including Swansea, Llandaff North, and Machen, have been attempting to sell their allocated tickets on social media.

The cost of attending a match, with ticket prices ranging from £40 to £120, has been cited as a deterrent by one club chairman, who noted that a family skiing trip was comparable in cost to a day out at the rugby.

Sports economist Prof Calvin Jones described the Six Nations as a premier rugby event in Wales, and the upcoming match against France as a significant one, given France's status as tournament favorites.

Prof Jones expressed surprise at the high number of unsold tickets, stating that he had not seen a similar situation in his 30 years as a sports economist.

Welsh rugby is currently facing challenges both on and off the pitch, with the team having lost 19 consecutive games before their recent win against Japan.

The team's poor performance in the Six Nations, with no wins since 2023, has likely contributed to the low demand for tickets.

Off the pitch, a dispute over the future of regional rugby has led to a feud between the Welsh Rugby Union and other stakeholders, including the leader of Swansea council and businesswoman Hayley Parsons.

According to Prof Jones, a single instance of low ticket sales would not be catastrophic, but a longer-term trend could have significant implications for the financial viability of Welsh rugby.

The Principality Stadium is a critical revenue source for Welsh rugby, and its success is essential to the sport's financial health, given the decline in regional rugby attendance over the past 20-30 years.

The Welsh Rugby Union has made efforts to diversify its revenue streams through concerts and cultural events, but the stadium's success remains crucial to the sport's overall financial well-being.

If low ticket sales were to become a persistent issue, it could have serious consequences for the financial sustainability of Welsh rugby, according to Prof Jones.

Prof Jones emphasized the need to rebuild trust between the various stakeholders in Welsh rugby.

The upcoming match against France follows a disappointing 48-7 loss to England in the opening round of the Six Nations.

Sean O'Sullivan, chairman of Penarth RFC, noted that the cost of attending a match was no longer justifiable for many fans, citing the example of a family skiing trip to Poland that was comparable in cost to a day out at the rugby.

O'Sullivan stated that the cost of the trip to Poland was only 20-30% more than what his family had previously spent on rugby days in Cardiff.

He expressed disappointment with the current state of Welsh rugby, stating that watching other teams play was like watching a different sport.

O'Sullivan suggested that the excitement would come from watching teams like Italy perform well, rather than Wales.

He noted that there had been a steady decline in demand for tickets among his club's members.

Eight years ago, Penarth RFC would have sold out their allocated tickets, but now they struggle to sell them all, due in part to rising costs.

O'Sullivan stated that his club was not alone in this struggle, with some clubs forced to sell their tickets outside the stadium on match day.

He attributed the decline in demand to a combination of factors, including the high cost of attending a match and the team's poor performance.

O'Sullivan noted that the experience of attending a match was no longer just about the game, but about the atmosphere, and that the cost of attending a match was comparable to a trip to Paris.

The Welsh Rugby Union derives more than 50% of its revenue from gate receipts for men's home internationals in Cardiff.

The financial impact of empty seats is difficult to quantify, given the varying ticket prices and concessions, such as student discounts.

The lowest attendance for a Wales home Six Nations match against France was 63,208 in 2022, while the smallest attendance in the tournament at the Principality Stadium was 58,349 against Italy in 2002.

Two years ago, the same Wales v France fixture attracted a crowd of 71,242.

In Gwynedd, fans expressed disappointment but not surprise at the current state of Welsh rugby.

Gwenda Harding, from Llanberis, stated that it was hard to watch the team lose consistently and that she tried to support them through thick and thin.

She noted that a one-off loss was acceptable, but the team's consistent poor performance over the past year was difficult to accept.

Gareth Jones, from Caernarfon, was not surprised by the low demand for tickets, citing the team's poor performance over the past two years.

He stated that he would not pay £85 for a ticket and suggested that football was becoming a more popular sport in Wales.

Jones noted that football tickets had been selling out quickly, and that the Principality Stadium could be filled twice over for a football match.

WRU Chief Operating Officer Gavin Marshall acknowledged that ticket buying habits were changing and that sales had picked up in recent days, with around 1,000 tickets being sold daily.

Marshall expressed confidence that Welsh fans would still turn out in force to support their team, despite the challenges facing the sport.

He noted that the Welsh Rugby Union had loyal fans and that they would be in good voice on Sunday to support their team.

Marshall emphasized the importance of home advantage in the upcoming match against France, which he described as a huge contest for Wales.

Principality Stadium is expected to be packed to capacity, providing an electric atmosphere for the upcoming event, with organizers expressing confidence in a strong turnout.

This report was supplemented with additional information provided by Matthew Richards and Gareth Wyn Williams.